Auto locking antenna



Aug. 5, 1958 BENIS AUTO LOCKING ANTENNA Filed Aug. 10, 1955 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to improvements in antennae for radio apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved radio antenna in which there is an antenna main housing into which the telescoping antenna sections are retractable when desired, or from which they are extensible when desired, depending upon whether and to what extent the radio apparatus is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved radio antenna which is particularly adaptable for mobile radio reception, as when the radio receiver is mounted in or carried upon a motor vehicle, and in which the telescoping antenna sections are receivable inside a shielded antenna main housing when no signals are to be received, while, when extended outside said main housing, then signals are received with a signal strength depending largely upon the extent of such antenna extension.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved radio antenna with releasable locking means for retaining the antenna telescoping sections within the main housing, so that When so locked, no signal may be received, and which is unlockable by means of a simple type of key, allowing the antenna sections to be moved to extended positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automobile radio antenna in which there is a first main housing element which is formed of metallic shielding material, so that when the antenna telescoping sections are disposed wholly therewithin, they are shielded against radio wave reception, and wherein there is a second main housing element formed of nonshielding material, secured to the outer end of said first main housing element, and carrying'releasa'ble locking means on the outer end portion of said second main housing element, so that while said antenna remains locked, a portion of said antenna telescoping sections extends inside said second radio wave permeable housing element, allowing the same to be influenced by said radio waves, and to actuate the radio receiver connected thereto, and thus to receive radio signals when locked.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automobile radio receiver antenna in which there are two main retractable positions of said telescoping antenna sections inside said main first housing which housing is shielded against radio waves, one such position in which said antenna sections are when retracted, wholly inside said first main housing, and the second such position in which said antenna sections are, when retracted, only incompletely inside said first shielded main housing, there being an extension therebeyond, said antenna being provided with a second main housing section formed of radio wave permeable material for on closing such portions of said antenna telescoping sections which, when in retracted position in the second such position, extend inside said second main housing section, with locking means engageable with the outer end of said second main housing section, to block further extension therefrom when so locked.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved radio antenna of the character described, which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, highly efiective and efiicient in use, and which may be readily installed in most motor vehicles without need for drilling more than three holes or less.

States Paten The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which:

Figure l is a sectional elevational View of a portion of a motor vehicle body, with my novel and improved antenna mounted therein, the telescopic extensions of the antenna being shown in fragment, and in extended positions, partly.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken vertically through the antenna shown in Figure 1, and showing the telescopic extensions of the antenna in retracted positions, with the locking means in engaged, locked position thereon.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on plane 3--3 of Figure 2, looking upwardly.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, but showing a modified form of the invention, with extension means in place thereon, the locking device being shown in exploded disposition thereabove and in unlocked orientation.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on plane 5-5 of Figure 4, looking upwardly.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on plane 6-6 of Figure 4, looking downwardly.

In connection with the manufacture, installation and use of radio antennae for mobile installations, such as in motor vehicles and the like, it is useful to employ telescoping antenna extension rods which are retractable inside a shielding housing. The present invention provides means for locking the antenna extension rods when in retracted positions inside the shielding housing, so that they may not be pulled out by unauthorized persons, or tampered with or broken, and so that no radio signals may be received. According to another form of the invention, by use of a housing extension which is itself permeable to radio waves, it is possible to receive radio signals while the antenna extension rols are locked inside the composite housing, although not fully extended. At the same time, the antenna itself is fully protected against being tampered with, broken off, or pulled out, by unauthorized persons, by use of the novel locking means and construction.

in order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar pm'ts throughout the several views.

As shown, there is a portion 10 of the body of a motor vehicle, such as a fender, cowl, or other portion thereof, which is commonly formed of sheet metal. Such a body portion 1!) is provided with an opening 12 through which extends the main body tubular housing 14 of the antenna device generally indicated at 16. The upper portion of the main body tubular housing 14 is externally threaded as at 318, and a lower nut 29 is threaded thereon below the motor vehicle body portion 16.

A rubber plate or gasket 22, is disposed on the upper surface 24 of the body portion it, being apertured to allow passage therethrough of the tubular housing id, and a positioning plate 26, formed of metal or relatively hard material, such as sheet plastic, is disposed over the rubber gasket 22, the positioning plate 25 being also apertured to allow passage of the tubular housing 14. An upper inside nut 28 is threaded onto the tubular housing 14 above plate 26, and, Working in conjunction with lower nut 20, permits adjustment of the vertical position of the tubular housing 14 as desired. A pair of screws 39, which may be of the self tapping types, extend through aligned openings in the plates 22 and 2e, and through the body portion 1!), adding to the rigidity of the assembly, and preventing unwanted turning of the housing.

Where the plate 26 is of metal, the screws 30 also aid in obtaining a good ground for the metaltubular housing 14, to the automobile body 10, but in any event, it is seen that this is accomplished through the contact of housing 14 with the opening 12 and the nut 20. At the bottom end 32, the housing 14 is tongued out'to form tongues or radial ribs 34, partially closing the bottom end of 'the tube, and forming a spider for support'of the tower end of the spring 36 disposed in the tube 14.

An outer telescoping antenna section 38, formed of metal tubing, is disposed slidably inside the ,bore 40 of the tubular housing 14, and has slidably telescoping within its own bore, several inner telescoping antenna sections, such as at 42 and 44, each also of metal, the smallest diameter section 44 being provided with an enlargement such as a ball 46 at its upper end. As seen best in Figure 2, insulating bushings or liners 48 are disposed at one or more locations inside the main tubular housing 14, so as to maintain the central position of the antenna section 38, and insulating washers 49 and 50 are also installed on the lower end of the telescoping section 38, for movement therewith. A connecting rod 52 is secured to washers 49 and 50, and may be enlarged as at 54 in the form of a frusto-conical section.

, with slidable locking pins 90 movable by the It is thus seen that the spring 36 serves the function of exerting upward bias on the telescoping antenna sections, so as to insure that they will extend outwardly past the uppermost portion of the device, such as the retaining nut member 56a or 56b, depending upon which is the particular arrangement being used, that is, as seen in Figure l, or Figure 4. With the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is seen that the spring 36 rests upon the prongs or fingers 34, such elevation suffic'ing for exerting suflicient upward bias on the telescoping section 38 to tend to project the knob 46 above the retaining nut56a whenno obstruction is in the way. A bezel or cover plate member or hollow housing cover 60 having a hollow area 62 is disposed over the plates 22 and 26 and the nut 23, which are thus hidden inside the same, the cover housing member 60 having an opening 64 formed therein to allow extension of the upper end of the main housing tube '14 therethrough, while the edges 66 of the bezel 60 rest on the body panel or cowl 10. The top retaining nut member 56a is threaded onto the topmost portion of the main tubular housing 14, as seen best in Figures 1 and 2, being retained securely thereon against undesired removal by a set screw 70. For clarity of illustration, the set screw is shown visible in Figure 1, but will normally be recessed below the surface of nut The nut 56a is provided with a top axial opening 74, with anienlarged chamber '76 therebelow. A locking member 78 is removably disposed on top of the nut 56a in the manner shown in Figure 2, and is actuated by means of a removable key 30 which when inserted in the keyhole or cylinder or the locking member 78, can turn the lower eccentrically mounted cylindrical detent 82 from the axial unlocked position shown in full lines in Figure 4, to the locked position shown in broken lines at 82a in Figure 4, and in full linesin Figures 2 and 3. When in such locked position it is apparent that the eccentrically mounted detent 32 extends out of registry with the axial portion 84 of the lock, so that eccentric 82 engages sidewise under the shoulder 86 of chamber 76, as seen best in "Figures 2" and 3, thus blocking removal of the lock 78 from engagement with nut 56a, or 5611 when used in that position. When the lock 78 is in locking engagement with nut 56a, or 5612, the key 80 may be removed from the lock, and the cover member 88 swung over into position covering the cylinderopening of the lock 78, such member 88 being shown in open position in Figures 2 and 4. From these views, it is also seen that the lock 78, which is a cylinder lock preferably,

section 38.

keys80, is provided with a retaining projection or angle finger 92,

carried by and extending out of the lock body, and with a depending leg 94 arranged to bear against the abutting surface of the nut 56a or 56b, as in Figure 2, to block disengagement of the lock when in locked position.

To lock the antenna against damage oruse, it is only necessary to turn the key to unlocked position, bring- I ing the members 82 and 84 into registry with each other, as in Figure 4, and thento insert them into the opening in the nut 56:: or 56b, pressing downto depress the ball 46, as the members 82 and 84 enter the nut. The key 80 is then turned to locked position, as in Figures 2 and 3, bringing the eccentric member 82 into the full line positions shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the key is withdrawn, leaving the lock in position. sibility of pulling or extending the telescoping rods 38 or 44 out for use or damage thereto.

When the motor vehicle radio receiver is to be used, it is only necessary to insert the key 80 into lock 78, turn it to unlocked position, which brings the lower eccentric member 82 back into the registry with member 34, as seen in Figure 4, and lift the lock up off the nut 56a or 5612, in the manner of Figure 4. The removal of the lock '78 allows the spring 36 to push the telescoping .rods upwardly so that ball 46 projects out of the nut 56a or 56b, so that it may be grasped by the hand and pulled out into extended position as needed for reception. It is understood that other means for extending the antenna rods may also be used, such as hydraulic actuators or electric extension means, acting upon the telescoping antenna sections.

As seen best in Figures 1 and 2, electrical contact with the antenna rods such as rod 38, is made in any suitable manner, such as by means of a contact brush connected to wire 102 extending through. rubber. insulation 104 inside'hollow metallic braided shielding 106, the cable terminating in a. plug 108 which is connectableto the antenna terminal of the radio receiver. A nut 110 is threaded onto the projection 112 of the main housing 14, and couples the wire 102 and the brush biasing spring 114 in the positions shown, so that there is no electrical connection between wire 102 and the outer housing 14, but only, through brush 100, with the slidable antenna Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it is seen that here is a modified form of the invention, which is of particular utility in permitting the reception of signals by the radio receiver while the antenna remains in locked position. As seen in Figure 4, I provide a second housing member 120, which is formed of material which is permeable to radio waves, such as ceramic material, plastic material, wooden material, or the like. The sec ond housing member is provided with an axial bore 122 which is alignable with the bore in the lower main housing 14, when the extension member 120 is disposed thereupon. In the form shown, the extension mem her or housing 129 is threaded at its lower portion, internally, as at 124, to engage with the upper end of the main housing '14, the retaining nut which was shown at 56a 'in Figures 1 and 2 being removed. An annular collar 126' is mounted on the reduced lower end of the second housing member 120, being retained in position by the set screw 128, which also extends radially inwardly to bear against the housing 14 to hold the assembly together. While the set screw 128 is shown externally visible, it is understood that this is only for clarity of illustration, and that it may be countersunk or otherwise made inaccessible readily from the outside, by unauthorized persons.

The bezel 60 of Figure 4 covers the same hidden members shown in section in Figure 2. The upper housing 120 is provided with a plurality of annular ribs 130, which are mutuallyinterspaced, so as to provide a long insulated electrical surface path, to minimize leakage to There. is no pos.

ground so that it is unnoticeable in efiect on the received signal. The upper end 132 of the upper housing 120 is threaded externally and reduced sufiiciently to engage with the nut 5612 which is threaded thereon, and is similar to the nut shown at 56a in Figures 1 and 2. The lock 78 is similarly applied in engagement with the nut at 56b, as already described for the nut at 56a, to lock the antenna sections against withdrawal by unauthorized persons. In order to maintain the antenna sections so that at least one of them extends through the upper housing 120, as in Figure 4, I provide a pair of aligned lateral openings 134 in main housing tube 14, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, to receive a cotter pin or the like 136 when the upper housing 120 is used.

The location of the openings 134 is chosen so as to allow the lower end of the spring 36 to rest upon the cotter pin 136 when inserted therein, at an elevation at which the spring 36 will cause the upper end or ball 46 of the antenna rods to tend to extend outwardly from the nut 56b when in that position, shown in Figure 4, so that, when the lock 78 is removed, the ball 46 will project slightly above nut 56b under spring pres-- sure. To make use of the extension housing 126, the user first pulls out rod 38 to an elevation wtih its lower washer 50 substantially higher than the openings 134, and turns the housing 14 upside down to elevate the spring 36 also past the holes 134. He then inserts the cotter pin 136 as shown in Figure 2 in broken lines, and may bend over the pin ends as shown to retain it therein. He then installs the antenna in the motor vehicle, as mentioned, installing the extension housing 12%) in place of the nut shown at 56a in Figure 2, and installs the nut at 56b at the top of the housing 120, as shown in Figure 4.

The spring 36 may also be attached at its upper end to the washer 50 and thus movable with rod 38, if d sired, in which case it will not be necessary to do anything but elevate rod 38 to the elevated position before inserting the cotter pin 136, the spring being thus also brought to elevated position resting on the cotter pin. The construction shown in Figure 4, has been found to permit good use of the radio receiver in the automobile without further extension of the antenna rods beyond that shown in Figure 4. As an example, the housing 12% may be only on the order of six inches high or even less,

such as about four to five inches high to receive strong metropolitan radio broadcasting stations through a reasonable radius of about ten miles or so, with present day superheterodyne receivers, and with good volume. When so used, the lock 78 may remain in position in locked engagement with nut 56b, and thus the antenna is protected against being pulled out or damaged. With sets provided with automatic volume control circuits, it has been found that suitable loud reception can be obtained at a much greater distance than the above mentioned ten miles, it being good even at a fifty mile radius in many areas.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing'fi'om the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

1 claim:

1. An antenna for vehicles, comprising a main hollow tubular housing defining an axial bore, a plurality of telescoping antenna rod sections disposed in said axial bore, and extensible outwardly therefrom for use as antennae, means insulating said antenna rod sections from said main tubular housing, cable means for connecting said antenna to a receiver, brush means for maintaining contact between said antenna rod sections and said cable means, lock supporting base means engaged by and carried by the upper portion of said main tubular housing and having an enlarged recess formed therein defining a lock engaging shoulder, resilient means biasing said antenna rod sections upwardly toward said axial bore outlet end so as to project outwardly past said lock sup porting base means, key actuated releasable locking means comprising eccentrically supported shoulder engaging means insertable through said lock supporting base means so that by turning said key thereof, said eccentrically supported shoulder engaging means is turned into engagement with said lock engaging shoulder, for engaging said locking means with said lock supporting base means, and constructed and arranged for blocking, when so engaged, extension of said rod means out of said tubular housing axial bore, and characterized further in that there is hollow bezel means carried by said main tubular housing and defining a hollow bezel recess, gasket means in said hollow bezel recess, positioning plate means overlying said gasket means, and nut means threadedly en gaging said main hollow tubular housing above and below said positioning plate means, for maintaining said positioning plate and said gasket means in sandwiched array on said hollow main tubular housing, under said bezel.

2. An antenna for use in a vehicle having a wall, coinprising a main hollow tubular housing extensible through said well and defining an axial bore, locknut means threaded onto said tubular housing above and below the location of said wall, for securing said housing thereto, gasket means underlying the said upper locknut means, locating plate means overlying said gasket means, screw means fastening said locating plate means and said gasket means to said motor vehicle wall, telescoping rod antenna sections disposed in said main tubular housing axial bore, and extensible upwardly out therefrom while insulated from said tubular housing, spring means disposed under said rod antenna sections for biasing said sections upwardly out of said tubular housing upper end, means constructed and arranged for providing a plurality of supporting positions for said spring means in said tubular housing bore so that at a lower such position said rod antenna sections just project out of the upper end of said main tubular housing, while at an upper supporting position, said rod sections project a substantial distance out of the upper end of said main tubular housing, brush contact means for maintaining contact with said rod sections, cable means for connecting said brush contact means with a radio receiver, hollow upper housing means formed of material which is permeable to radio waves, and carried by the upper end of said main tubular housing so that said rod antenna sections extend into said hollow permeable upper housing means to receive signals therethrough, lock supporting base means secured to the upper end of said hollow upper housing means and defining a hollow overhanging shoulder recess, and key actuated eccentric locking means carried releasably by said lock supporting base means and comprising an eccentrically mounted shoulder engaging projection which is insertable in said lock supporting base means shoulder recess, and, upon turning of the key of said locking means, is turnable eccentrically into engagement under said hollow overhanging shoulder recess for locking the said rod sections against further extension.

3. The construction according to claim 2, in which said locking means comprises a lock housing, a cylinder turnable in said lock housing, key means for turning said cylinder, lateral cylinder controlling pin detent means, for freeing said cylinder on insertion of said key means, said eccentric shoulder engaging projection being turnable eccentrically with said cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,544,951 Sollee July 7, 1925 2,322,347 Churchman June 22, 1943 2,491,629 Vernier et al. Dec. 20, 1949 

